EPA Taking Over More Texas Air Permits

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DALLAS (CBSDFW.com) – Texas refuses to regulate greenhouse gases, so the federal Environmental Protection Agency will do it for the state.

On Thursday the EPA said it will take over issuing Clean Air Act Permits for greenhouse gas emissions in Texas beginning in January.

The agency said in a statement that it wants the states to continue issuing the permits, but that “officials in Texas have made clear … they have no intention of implementing this portion of the federal air permitting program.”

A U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2007 forced the EPA to regulate carbon dioxide and three other greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.

Individual states have always managed certain kinds of Clean Air Act permits on the EPA’s behalf. But earlier this year the EPA notified Texas that its program for issuing many of these permits was inadequate.

The EPA estimates that 167 facilities in Texas will need new permits to comply with the greenhouse gas rules.

Texas sued the EPA over the new rules. Earlier this month a federal appeals court turned down Texas’ request to stop the rules, saying the state did not prove the regulations would cause major economic harm.

(C) Copyright 2010 CBS Local Media. The Associated Press contributed to this report.